Misión de Candelilla, Rotary Club of Fredericksburg-Nimitz, Rotary Club of New Braunfels and Club Rotario Piedras Negras recently shared the miracle of Christmas in Mexico. At 5:20 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, in the parking lot of Bridge Church, Santa (Curtis Allerkamp) was there preparing to take a team of his elves to Mexico.
Thirty-six hours earlier, Rotary Club of Fredericksburg-Nimitz “elves” had gathered with him to pack gifts for the children of Centinela, Coahuila, Mexico.
“Santa had determined through his elves from the Club Rotario Piedras Negras in Mexico that all of the children living in Centinela had been good,” Allerkamp said. “These elves had given him the name of each child, and a gift had been packed specifically for each individual child.” At 5:30 a.m., they departed in Santa’s sleighs (Misión de Candelilla vans) to Eagle Pass. There, at 9 a.m., they met with other elves from the Rotary Club of New Braunfels, who had packed gifts for the children of Navaja, Coahuila.
“Santa had heard that the children living there had been good, as well,” he said. Finally, they crossed the Rio Grande to meet with the Aduana (Mexican Customs) to have their reindeer inspected. After the reindeer received a clean bill of health, the groups of elves were off to their respective destinations. “Santa wanted to not only give gifts but he wanted to make sure each child had everything they needed to do well in life. So, each child was screened for hearing and vision problems and a doctor visit, if necessary. They were given a special North Pole treat of children’s vitamins,” Allerkamp said.
Volunteers saw the joy in the eyes of each child as they heard their name called, he said. Each child shyly stretched out their arms to receive the gift Santa had selected for them. “When the work was done it was time to celebrate and all the elves from Texas met with the elves of Mexico at a secret place known only to Santa,” Allerkamp said. “There they held a fiesta that the elves of Mexico hosted. We all celebrated the joy they had seen and felt that day.”